Canada's Leadership in Violation with Vatican's Pronouncements

On Thursday, July 31, the Vatican issued a statement entitled, ÒConsiderations Regarding Proposals To Give Legal Recognition To Unions Between Homosexual Persons.Ó Summarized in point form it is as follows. Ò*Under no circumstances can homosexual acts be approved. *Homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered. *Unjust discrimination against homosexuals must be avoided. *Homosexual inclination is objectively disordered. *Homosexual practices are sins gravely contrary to chastity. *Christians must unmask the ways in which tolerance is exploited in the service of ideology. *Christians must state clearly the immoral nature of homosexual unions. *Christians must remind governments of the need to contain homosexuality within certain limits so as to safeguard public morality. *Christians must avoid exposing young people to erroneous ideas about sexuality and marriage. *If homosexual unions are given the legal status of marriage, Christians must exercise the right to conscientious objection. *The Catholic lawmaker has a duty to express opposition clearly and publicly and to vote against homosexual marriage. To vote in favour is grossly immoral. *If legislation recognizing homosexual marriage is already in force, or comes into force, the Catholic politician must oppose it in all ways possible, including civil disobedience.Ó On the same day that this statement was issued, Canada's National Post newspaper reported that Liberal Party leadership front-runner Paul Martin had suggested to reporters in Toronto that his role as a legislator might take precedence over his religious beliefs when it comes to allowing same-sex couples to marry. The Supreme Court of Canada, at the request of Prime Minister Jean ChrŽtien, is presently reviewing proposed legislation that would allow same-sex marriage, to determine whether it complies with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Martin told reporters, "I am a practicing Catholic and I have responsibilities as a legislator and those responsibilities must take in a wider perspective."

It is well to note that both ChrŽtien and Martin are Òpracticing Catholics.Ó So is Madam Justice Eileen Gillese of the Ontario Court of Appeal, one of the three Ontario judges who ordered recognition of same-sex marriage. Of course, they have their excuses ready. A spokesperson in the Prime Minister's Office said that ChrŽtien's primary responsibility is to serve the Canadian public, not his church. WeÕll see how the Vatican will respond to that!